Latin Phrases Vocabulary

created or done for a particular purpose as necessary

“The committee formed an ad hoc solution to address the immediate crisis.”

Origin: Latin: ad `to` + hoc `this`

an argument directed against a person rather than their position

“Instead of addressing the policy, he resorted to ad hominem attacks.”

Origin: Latin: ad `to` + hominem `man/person` (accusative of homo)

endlessly; forever; without limit

“The meeting dragged on ad infinitum with no resolution in sight.”

Origin: Latin: ad `to` + infinitum `infinity/unlimited` (from infinitus `unbounded`)

to a sickening or excessive degree; repeatedly

“He repeated his accomplishments ad nauseam until everyone tuned out.”

Origin: Latin: ad `to` + nauseam `seasickness` (from nausea `nausea`)

genuine; real; made in good faith

“She received a bona fide offer from a reputable company.”

Origin: Latin: bona `good` (ablative of bonus) + fide `faith` (ablative of fides)

seize the day; make the most of the present moment

“His philosophy was carpe diem—live fully today.”

Origin: Latin: carpe `seize/pluck` (imperative of carpere) + diem `day` (accusative of dies)

let the buyer beware; the buyer assumes the risk

“The used car market operates on caveat emptor principles.”

Origin: Latin: caveat `let beware` (subjunctive of cavere) + emptor `buyer`

I think, therefore I am (Descartes' philosophical proposition)

“Cogito ergo sum became the foundation of modern philosophy.”

Origin: Latin: cogito `I think` (from cogitare) + ergo `therefore` + sum `I am` (from esse `to be`)

in fact; in reality; existing in practice

“Though not officially appointed, she was the de facto leader.”

Origin: Latin: de `from/concerning` + facto `fact/deed` (ablative of factum)

by right; according to law; legally recognized

“He was the de jure owner, though his brother managed the property.”

Origin: Latin: de `from/by` + jure `law/right` (ablative of jus)

an unexpected power or event that saves a seemingly hopeless situation

“The sudden inheritance was a deus ex machina that resolved all their financial problems.”

Origin: Latin: deus `god` + ex `from/out of` + machina `machine` (translation of Greek `apo mēkhanēs theos`)

therefore; consequently

“The data is incomplete, ergo our conclusions may be flawed.”

Origin: Latin: ergo `therefore/consequently`

and other similar things; and so forth

“Bring your books, pens, notebooks, et cetera.”

Origin: Latin: et `and` + cetera `the rest/other things` (from ceterus `the other`)

with retroactive effect or force; after the fact

“Ex post facto laws are prohibited by the Constitution.”

Origin: Latin: ex `from/out of` + post `after` + facto `fact/deed` (ablative of factum)

a legal order requiring a person to be brought before a court

“The lawyer filed for habeas corpus to challenge the detention.”

Origin: Latin: habeas `you should have` (subjunctive of habere) + corpus `body` (accusative)

while not present; in one's absence

“He was convicted in absentia after fleeing the country.”

Origin: Latin: in `in` + absentia `absence` (ablative of absentia, from absens `absent`)

in the place of a parent; with parental authority

“Teachers act in loco parentis during school hours.”

Origin: Latin: in `in` + loco `place` (ablative of locus) + parentis `of a parent` (genitive of parens)

in the middle of things; starting in the midst of action

“The novel begins in medias res, with the protagonist already in danger.”

Origin: Latin: in `in` + medias `middle` (accusative plural of medius) + res `things/matters` (accusative plural)

in its original place; on site

“The archaeologists studied the artifacts in situ before removing them.”

Origin: Latin: in `in` + situ `position/site` (ablative of situs `position`)

in glass; in an artificial environment outside a living organism

“In vitro fertilization has helped many couples conceive.”

Origin: Latin: in `in` + vitro `glass` (ablative of vitrum)

within a living organism

“The drug showed different results in vivo than in laboratory tests.”

Origin: Latin: in `in/within` + vivo `living` (ablative of vivus `alive`)

by that very fact; as a direct consequence

“Signing the contract ipso facto made him liable for the debt.”

Origin: Latin: ipso `by itself/by that very` (ablative of ipse) + facto `fact/deed` (ablative of factum)

with great honor (academic distinction)

“She graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Law School.”

Origin: Latin: magna `great` (ablative of magnus) + cum `with` + laude `praise/honor` (ablative of laus)

my fault; an acknowledgment of one's error

“The CEO issued a mea culpa for the company's failures.”

Origin: Latin: mea `my` (ablative of meus) + culpa `fault/blame`

remember that you will die; a reminder of mortality

“The skull on his desk served as a memento mori.”

Origin: Latin: memento `remember` (imperative of meminisse) + mori `to die` (infinitive)

a method of operating or functioning; way of working

“The detective recognized the criminal's modus operandi.”

Origin: Latin: modus `manner/method` + operandi `of operating` (gerund of operari `to work`)

a conclusion that does not logically follow from the premise

“His argument was a non sequitur that confused everyone.”

Origin: Latin: non `not` + sequitur `it follows` (from sequi `to follow`)

for each person; per head

“The per capita income in the region has doubled.”

Origin: Latin: per `for each/by` + capita `heads` (accusative plural of caput `head`)

by itself; intrinsically; as such

“Money per se doesn't bring happiness.”

Origin: Latin: per `by/through` + se `itself` (ablative of sui)

an unwelcome or unacceptable person

“After the scandal, he became persona non grata in political circles.”

Origin: Latin: persona `person` + non `not` + grata `pleasing/welcome` (from gratus)

an examination after death; analysis after an event

“The team conducted a post mortem on the failed project.”

Origin: Latin: post `after` + mortem `death` (accusative of mors)

at first sight; based on initial impression

“There was prima facie evidence of fraud.”

Origin: Latin: prima `first` (ablative of primus) + facie `face/appearance` (ablative of facies)

done without charge for the public good

“The lawyer took the case pro bono.”

Origin: Latin: pro `for` + bono `good` (ablative of bonum); short for `pro bono publico` (for the public good)

something given in exchange for something else

“The deal was a quid pro quo—support for funding.”

Origin: Latin: quid `what/something` + pro `for` + quo `which/what` (ablative)

the minimum number of members needed for valid proceedings

“We couldn't vote without a quorum present.”

Origin: Latin: quorum `of whom` (genitive plural of qui `who`); from legal phrase `quorum vos...unum esse volumus` (of whom we wish that you...be one)

an essential condition; something absolutely necessary

“Trust is the sine qua non of any relationship.”

Origin: Latin: sine `without` + qua `which` (ablative of quae) + non `not`; literally `without which not`

the existing state of affairs

“The new policy threatens to disrupt the status quo.”

Origin: Latin: status `state/condition` + quo `in which` (ablative); from `status quo ante` (the state in which before)

a blank slate; the mind before receiving impressions

“Locke believed we are born as tabula rasa.”

Origin: Latin: tabula `tablet/board` + rasa `scraped/erased` (from radere `to scrape`)

word for word; in exactly the same words

“She quoted his speech verbatim from memory.”

Origin: Latin: verbatim `word for word` (adverb from verbum `word`)

the other way around; with the order reversed

“She helps him and vice versa.”

Origin: Latin: vice `in place of/position` (ablative of vicis `change/alternation`) + versa `turned` (from vertere `to turn`)

among other things

“The report discussed, inter alia, the cost of living.”

Origin: Latin: inter `among/between` + alia `other things` (neuter plural of alius `other`)

proportional; strictly according to calculated share

“Fees are calculated on a pro rata basis.”

Origin: Latin: pro `according to` + rata `calculated/reckoned` (from reri `to reckon`); literally `according to the calculated portion`